WALTER C. JONES

ATLANTA -- Congress’ end to the practice of earmarking makes it harder to secure funding for deepening the Savannah River’s shipping channel, Sen. Saxby Chambliss said Monday.

The Georgia Republican told members of the Atlanta Press Club that he is also working to increase the amount authorized for the project originally in a 1993 water act from $450 million to $650 million so that inflation is included.